Before the medal, a beer for Obama and Marine

WASHINGTON 
President Barack Obama has shared a beer with Dakota Meyer at the White House the evening before presenting the former Marine with the Medal of Honor.

The White House revealed the private moment shared by the two men Wednesday evening on the patio outside of the Oval Office. A White House ceremony to bestow the medal to Meyer is set for Thursday.

Meyer saved 36 lives during an ambush in September of 2009 by insurgents in Afghanistan. He is credited with saving 13 Marines and Army soldiers, along with 23 Afghan soldiers. The military says Meyer personally killed at least eight insurgents despite being wounded himself.